Image inspection apparatus, image inspection method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for indicating areas to be inspected and areas exempt from inspection

ABSTRACT

An image inspection apparatus is provided to allow a user, when checking a scan result of automatic inspection, to check a really-inspected area. The image inspection apparatus includes an image scanning unit to scan an image on a paper, an abnormality detector to determine whether or not a printing result is normal based on the image scanned by the image scanning unit, a storage unit to store information on an area to be inspected by the abnormality detector, and a display processor to indicate the area to be inspected by the abnormality detector in the image scanned by the image scanning unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2019-078856 filed on 17 Apr. 2019, the disclosures ofall of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image inspection device, an imageinspection method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium usedfor image inspection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An automatic inspection function in printing business is a function ofcomparing a scanned result of an output material to be inspected to acorrect image associated therewith in advance, identifying defectiveprinted material having such as dirt, dog ears, wrinkles, or print skew,and automatically discharging the defective printed material as aspoiled paper to another tray. Here, the correct image is generated froma result of scanning the original copy or an output from a print job forgenerating the correct image.

There is a problem, if the inspection is always executed over the entireimage during image inspection, that although there is no abnormality inthe area to be inspected, abnormality in an area exempt from inspectionmay lead to a printed material being identified as defective. Therefore,the area to be inspected is generally specified and such a control ismade that no inspection is made for any abnormal image in an area exemptfrom inspection.

In addition, there is a known technique, as disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Publication No. 2017-191979 A (hereinafter referred to asPatent Document 1), in which an inspected scanned image is stored as animage file such as a PDF file, so that a user refers to the image fileto directly check the inspection result. According to Patent Document 1,the user checks the result of the abnormality detection and theinspected real scanned image, and checks for and inputs erroneousdetection and omission of detection, to provide feedback to theconditions for detecting abnormality during automatic inspection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved

However, there are following problems a) to e) when a user checks aninspected image, because the user is unable to know the area inspectedby the device.

a) When a printed material is inspected, it is impossible to checkwhether the inspected area is an area intended for inspection by theuser.b) If the area, for which the printed material needs be inspected, isnot inspected, the final deliverable may be shipped with the abnormalimage remaining uncorrected.c) In addition, when an image defect visually detected by the user hasnot been detected by the device, it is impossible to determine whetherit has not been detected because the image is outside the area to beinspected, or it has not been detected because no conditions(thresholds) for determining an abnormal image are met.

d) It is impossible to determine whether the inspected area of the printimage needs to be corrected or the inspection condition needs to becorrected.

e) When visually checking the scanned result, the user cannot strictlyrecognize the inspected area, and therefore it is difficult to determinewhether an image defect near the boundary for the trimmed area affectsthe final deliverable. Then, it is necessary to measure a distance froman edge of the image and compare it to a trimming amount.

The present invention is therefore intended to allow a user, whenchecking a scan result of automatic inspection, to check areally-inspected area.

Solution to Problem

That is, the above-identified problems are solved by the presentinvention with the following configurations.

1) An image inspection apparatus includes: an image scanning unit toscan an image on a paper; an abnormality detector to inspect whether ornot a printing result is normal based on the image scanned by the imagescanning unit; a storage unit to store information on an area to beinspected by the abnormality detector; and an area indicator to indicatethe area to be inspected by the abnormality detector in the imagescanned by the image scanning unit.

2) The image inspection apparatus, as described in 1), further includesan image processor to superimpose a graphic, indicating the area to beinspected or an area exempt from inspection, on an original image or theimage scanned by the image scanning unit.

3) In the image inspection apparatus as described in 2), the imageprocessor superimposes a graphic, indicating the area to be inspected orthe area exempt from inspection, on the same layer as the originalimage, and associates the superimposed image with the original image fora management purpose.

4) In the image inspection apparatus as described in 2), the imageprocessor, when superimposing the graphic indicating the area to beinspected on the original image, registers the graphic in a layerdifferent from the original image.

5) In the image inspection apparatus as described in 3), the areaindicator switches displaying the original image and displaying an imageobtained by superimposing a graphic, indicating the area to be inspectedor the area exempt from inspection, on the original image.

6) In the image inspection apparatus as described in 2), the areaindicator displays the area to be inspected or the area exempt frominspection in a solid color, with respect to the image scanned by theimage scanning unit.

7) In the image inspection apparatus as described in 2), the areaindicator displays a boundary line between the area to be inspected andthe area exempt from inspection, with respect to the image scanned bythe image scanning unit.

8) In the image inspection apparatus as described in 2), the areaindicator switches a way of indicating the area exempt from inspection,depending on a factor and/or condition to make the area be exempt frominspection.

9) The image inspection apparatus as described in 1) further includes adisplay processor to create an image indicating the area to be inspectedby the abnormality detector.

10) The image inspection apparatus as described in 1) further includes atrimmer to generate an image obtained by trimming an area exempt frominspection from the image scanned by the image scanning unit.

11) The image inspection apparatus as described in 1) further includes astorage unit to store information on the area to be inspected or an areaexempt from inspection, along with the image scanned by the imagescanning unit.

12) In the image inspection apparatus as described in 11), the storageunit stores information on the area to be inspected or the area exemptfrom inspection with characters so as to be superimposed on the imagescanned by the image scanning unit.

13) In the image inspection apparatus as described in 11), the storageunit stores an image scanned by the image scanning unit, and storesinformation on the area to be inspected or the area exempt frominspection in association with the image.

14) The image inspection apparatus as described in 1) further includes acorrector to correct the area to be inspected or an area exempt frominspection, which has abnormality detected by the abnormality detector.

15) In the image inspection apparatus as described in any one of 1) to14), a/the area exempt from inspection by the abnormality detectorincludes an area to be trimmed from a recording medium having the imageprinted thereon.

16) In the image inspection apparatus as described in any one of 1) to14), an/the area exempt from inspection by the abnormality detectorincludes an area having different print contents for each recordingmedium.

17) An image inspection method includes: scanning, by an image scanningunit, an image on a paper; determining, by an abnormality detector,whether or not a printing result is normal based on the image scanned bythe image scanning unit; storing information on an area to be inspectedby the abnormality detector in a storage unit; and indicating, by anarea indicator, the area to be inspected by the abnormality detector inthe image scanned by the image scanning unit.

18) A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-executableinstructions for image inspection, which, when executed by a processor,cause the processor to perform operations including: scanning, by animage scanning unit, an image on a paper; determining whether or not aprinting result is normal based on the image scanned by the imagescanning unit; storing information on an area to be inspected in astorage unit; and indicating, by an area indicator, the area to beinspected in the image scanned by the image scanning unit.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

The present invention allows a user, when checking a scan result ofautomatic inspection, to check a really-inspected area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram to show a schematic configuration of an imageforming system according to present embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming system;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a controller;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process to switch between displaying agraphic indicating an area exempt from inspection so as to besuperimposed on an image obtained by scanning a recording medium, andnot displaying the graphic;

FIG. 5 is an example of an image obtained by scanning a printedrecording medium;

FIG. 6 is a diagram to show a layer of an area exempt from inspection;

FIG. 7 is a diagram to show an image obtained by superimposing the areaexempt from inspection on the image obtained by scanning the recordingmedium;

FIG. 8 is a diagram to show a structure of a file having the area exemptfrom inspection registered as another layer of the image obtained byscanning the printed recording medium;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process to switch between displaying agraphic indicating an area to be inspected so as to be superimposed onan image obtained by scanning a recording medium, and not displaying thegraphic;

FIG. 10 is an example of an image obtained by scanning a printedrecording medium;

FIG. 11 is a diagram to show an area to be inspected;

FIG. 12 is a diagram to show a structure of a file having an area to beinspected registered as another layer of an image obtained by scanning aprinted recording medium;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a process to display boundary lines between anarea to be inspected and an area exempt from inspection so as to besuperimposed on an image obtained by scanning a recording medium;

FIG. 14 is a diagram to show a file having the boundary lines betweenthe area to be inspected and the area exempt from inspection registeredas another layer of the image obtained by scanning the recording medium;

FIG. 15 is a diagram to show an image obtained by superimposing theboundary lines between the area to be inspected and the area exempt frominspection on the image obtained by scanning the recording medium;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a process to display a boundary line for avariable area so as to be superimposed on the image obtained by scanningthe recording medium, and to display trimmed areas in a solid color;

FIG. 17 is a diagram to show an area-to-be-inspected screen;

FIG. 18 is a diagram to show an area reset screen for resetting an areaexempt from inspection;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a process to trim the area exempt frominspection from an image obtained by scanning a printed recordingmedium;

FIG. 20 is a diagram to show an image obtained by scanning a printedrecording medium;

FIG. 21 is a diagram to show a file obtained by trimming areas exemptfrom inspection from the image obtained by scanning the printedrecording medium;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a process to display coordinate information ofan area exempt from inspection, along with an image obtained by scanninga recording medium; and

FIG. 23 is a diagram to show a display screen having coordinateinformation of the area exempt from inspection.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described indetail, with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram to show aschematic configuration of an image forming system 1 of the presentembodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming system 1.

The image forming system 1 includes a display operation unit 11, a paperfeeding unit 12, an image forming device 13, an image inspection device14, a trimming device 15, and a purging device 16, as shown in FIG. 1.The paper feeding unit 12, the image forming device 13, the imageinspection device 14, the trimming device 15, and the purging device 16are connected in order from the upstream to the downstream intransporting the paper.

The image forming system 1 includes a control unit 10, the displayoperation unit 11, the paper feeding unit 12, a printing unit 130, animage scanning unit 140, a trimming unit 150, a purging unit 160, astorage unit 18, and a communication unit 19 as shown in FIG. 2. Theseare interconnected via a bus or interface to exchange signals.

The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM(Read Only Memory) 102, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103. The CPU101 controls the above-described units and executes various arithmeticprocessing according to one or more programs. The ROM 102 is anon-volatile memory to store various programs and various data forcontrolling the devices of the image forming system 1. The RAM 103 is avolatile memory to temporarily store programs and data as a working areafor the CPU 101.

The storage unit 18 is a large-capacity storage device, such as a harddisk, to store various programs and various data. The CPU 101, the ROM102, and the RAM 103 constitutes a computer to execute the programsstored in the storage unit 18 for executing processing in processes. Thecommunication unit 19 is an interface to communicate with anothersystem.

The display operation unit 11 is an operation panel including a touchpanel, a numeric keypad, a start button, and a stop button, and is usedfor displaying various information and inputting various instructions.

<Paper Feeding Unit>

The paper feeding unit 12 includes a plurality of large-capacity paperfeeding stages 121 to 123. The large-capacity paper feeding stages 121to 123 store papers 9 used for image formation. The paper feeding unit12 sends out the papers 9 stored in the large-capacity paper feedingstages 121 to 123 to the image forming device 13 one by one.

<Image Forming Device>

The image forming device 13 includes inside paper feeding stages 131 and132, a transport roller 133, a transfer roller 134, a fixing roller 135,and reversing paths 136 and 137, to be configured as the printing unit130 in FIG. 2. The inside paper feed stages 131 and 132 store papers 9used for image formation. The transport roller 133 transports the papers9 transported from the inside paper feed stages 131 and 132 and thepaper feeding unit 12, one by one, to the downstream.

The transfer roller 134 is installed on the downstream of the transportroller 133 and transfers toner images in CMYK colors onto the paper 9.The fixing roller 135 heats and presses the paper 9 to fix the tonerimages transferred onto the paper 9. The reversing paths 136 and 137 arepaths to reverse the paper 9 discharged from the fixing roller 135 andresend the paper 9 to the transport roller 133. This allows the imageforming device 13 to print on both sides of the paper 9.

The printing unit 130 uses a popular image forming process, such as anelectrophotographic process, including the steps of charging, exposing,developing, transferring, and fixing, to form an image derived from theimage data on the paper 9. The paper 9 having the image formed by theprinting unit 130 is transported to the image inspection device 14installed downstream.

<Image Inspection Device>

The image inspection device 14 includes optical sensors 141 and 142, anda roller 143. The optical sensors 141 and 142 are configured as theimage scanning unit 140 in FIG. 2.

The image scanning unit 140 scans the image formed on the paper 9 toobtain scanned image data. The optical sensors 141 and 142 of the imagescanning unit 140 are imaging devices such as CCD (Charge CoupledDevice) image sensors. The optical sensor 141 images the front surfaceof the paper 9. The optical sensor 142 images the back surface of thepaper 9.

The image scanning unit 140 irradiates the paper 9 with light from alight source such as a fluorescent lamp, photoelectrically converts thereflected light into electric signals by the optical sensors 141 and142, and generates scanned image data from the electric signals. Thepaper 9, from which the image is scanned by the image scanning unit 140,is sequentially transported to the trimming device 15 installeddownstream.

<Trimming Device>

The trimming device 15 includes trimming cutters 151 to 153 and a wastebin 154, to be configured as a trimming unit 150 in FIG. 2. The trimmingunit 150 trims the paper 9 having an image formed by the image formingdevice 13. The trimming unit 150 includes a trimming cutter 151 to trimthe paper 9 in a direction along the transport direction, and trimmingcutters 152, 153 to trim the paper 9 in a direction orthogonal to thetransport direction, to trim the paper 9 in two directions. The trimmingunit 150 trims the paper 9 based on trimming process information of thejob, to cut out ends of the paper 9 and put the cut ends into the wastebin 154. The paper obtained by trimming the paper 9 by the trimming unit150 is sequentially transported to the purging device 16 installeddownstream.

<Purging Device>

The purging device 16 includes a main catch tray 161 provided on a sidesurface of a main body of the device and a sub catch tray 162 providedon an upper part of the main body of the device, to be configured as apurging unit 160 in FIG. 2. The purging unit 160 discharges the papertrimmed by the trimming device 15. The purging unit 160 of the presentembodiment has the main catch tray 161 provided on the side surface ofthe main body of the device, and the sub catch tray 162 provided on theupper part of the main body of the device.

A transport path switching unit 163 switches the transport path of thetrimmed paper between a first transport path directed to the main catchtray 161 and a second transport path directed to the sub catch tray 162.If no abnormality is found in the paper 9 before trimming, the transportpath switching unit 163 transports the cut paper to the first transportpath, to discharge the cut paper to the main catch tray 161. If anyabnormality is found in the paper 9 before trimming, the transport pathswitching unit 163 transports the cut paper to the second transportpath, to discharge (or purge) the paper to the sub catch tray 162.

The control unit 10 of the image forming system 1 works as the purgingunit 160 to discharge the normal paper 9 to the main catch tray 161 anddischarge an abnormal paper to the sub catch tray 162, in cooperationwith a control unit (not shown) of the purging device 16. In addition,the control unit 10 of the image forming system 1 works as an operationcontroller 107 (see FIG. 3) to control operation of the image formingsystem 1, in cooperation with control units (not shown) of the imageinspection device 14, trimming device 15, and purging device 16.

Further, the control unit 10 of the image forming system 1 executes theprogram stored in the storage unit 18 to work as an image processor 104,a display processor 105, an abnormality detector 106, the operationcontroller 107, a corrector 108, and a trimmer 109. Here, the imageprocessor 104 processes the image data on the paper 9 scanned by theimage scanning unit 140. The image processor 104 superimposes a graphic,indicating an area to be inspected or an area exempt from inspection, onthe original image scanned by the image scanning unit 140. This allowsthe user to check the really-inspected area. The image processor 104 mayregister a graphic indicating an area to be inspected or an area exemptfrom inspection, as a layer, in the original image. Alternatively, theimage processor may associate an image having a graphic, indicating anarea to be inspected or an area exempt from inspection, drawn thereonwith the original image, for a management purpose.

The display processor 105 displays the image data on the paper 9obtained by the image scanning unit 140 on the display operation unit 11or the like. In addition, the display processor 105 may mechanicallyswitch at a predetermined cycle between displaying a graphic indicatingan area to be inspected or an area exempt from inspection so as to besuperimposed on the original image scanned by the image scanning unit140, and not displaying the graphic. As a result, the display processor105 works as an area indicator to indicate the image data on the paper 9obtained by the image scanning unit 140.

The abnormality detector 106 detects abnormality from the image data onthe paper 9 obtained by the image scanning unit 140, and thus detectswhether the print result is normal. The operation controller 107controls a series of image forming operation, in cooperation with thedevices in the image forming system 1. The corrector 108 allows the userto correct the area to be inspected or the area exempt from inspection,in cooperation with the display processor 105. The trimmer 109 uses theimage processor 104 to trim the area exempt from inspection from thescanned image. Specific operations by the respective processors aredescribed below.

The image forming system 1, the trimming device 15, the image inspectiondevice 14, and the purging device 16 may each include one or morecomponents other than those described above, or may have some of thosedescribed above excluded.

In the image forming system 1 configured as described above, the papers9 each having the image formed by the printing unit 130 are sequentiallyinspected by the image inspection device 14, and the images on thepapers 9 are inspected. Hereinbelow, the operation of the imageinspection device 14 is described in detail, with reference to FIGS. 4to 23.

First Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process to switch between displaying agraphic indicating an area exempt from inspection so as to besuperimposed on an image obtained by scanning a recording medium, andnot displaying the graphic. First, the control unit 10 uses the printingunit 130 to output a job for inspection on the paper 9 (S10), and usesthe image scanning unit 140 to scan the image outputted on the paper 9(S11). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not any areaexempt from inspection is specified in the job for inspection (S12).

If no area exempt from inspection is specified in the job for inspection(No), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106 to executeimage analysis and inspection over the entire image (S15), and to storethe scanned image in the storage unit 18 (S16).

If any area exempt from inspection is specified in the job forinspection (Yes), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106to execute image analysis and inspection over the area to be inspected(S13), and uses the image processor 104 to register a graphic,indicating the area exempt from inspection, in another layer of thescanned image (S14). In addition, the control unit 10 stores the scannedimage in the storage unit 18 (S16).

The control unit 10 then uses the display processing unit 105 todetermine whether or not the layer for the area exempt from inspectionis registered in the stored image (S17). If the layer for the areaexempt from inspection is registered in the stored image (Yes), thecontrol unit 10 displays the image stored in the storage unit 18, whilemechanically switching, at a predetermined cycle, between displaying thelayer for the area exempt from inspection over the image, and notdisplaying the layer (S18), and ends the processing in FIG. 4. That is,the control unit 10 switches, at a predetermined cycle, betweendisplaying the image obtained by scanning the printed paper 9 anddisplaying the image having the graphic indicating the area exempt frominspection superimposed on the scanned image. This allows the user, whenchecking the image obtained by scanning the printed paper 9, to checkthe really-inspected area.

If no layer is registered in the stored image for a graphic of the areaexempt from inspection (No), the control unit 10 uses the displayprocessor 105 to display the stored image (S19), and ends the process inFIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is an example of an image 2 obtained by scanning a printedrecording medium. The image 2 includes a text area 21, a photograph area22, and a variable area 23 having an address and the like. The text area21 is an area where a text is printed. The photograph area 22 is an areawhere a photograph is printed. The variable area 23 is a variable areawhere different contents are printed for the every paper 9. In contrast,the text area 21 or the photograph area 22 is an invariable area whosecontents remain the same even for the different paper 9, and are thusspecified as the area to be inspected.

FIG. 6 is a diagram to show a layer 3 of the area exempt frominspection. Here, the layer 3 is a layer added to the image 2. The layer3 includes a trimmed area 31 at the left end, a trimmed area 32 at theright end, and a variable area 33 at the lower center. In the layer 3,the trimmed areas 31, 32 and variable area 33 indicated by hatching areopaque. The other areas without hatching are transparent.

FIG. 7 is a diagram to show an image 2A obtained by superimposing thearea exempt from inspection on the image 2 obtained by scanning therecording medium. The image 2A includes the text area 21, the photographarea 22, the trimmed areas 31, 32, and the variable area 33. The trimmedareas 31, 32 and the variable area 33 are not areas to be inspected.That is, the image 2A is obtained by superimposing the area exempt frominspection on the image 2 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a diagram to show a structure of a file, having the areaexempt from inspection, registered as another layer of the imageobtained by scanning the printed recording medium. The layer 3 ispositioned as an upper layer of the image 2 obtained by scanning theprinted recording medium. The layer 3 may be displayed as the upperlayer of the image 2, to display the image 2A (see FIG. 7) having thegraphic for the area to be inspected superimposed on the scanned image2. The layer 3 may not be displayed, to display the scanned image 2 (seeFIG. 5) itself. Mechanically switching, at a predetermined cycle,between displaying the image 2A and displaying the image 2 in thismanner allows the user to visually recognize the area to be inspected inthe scanned image, and further to visually recognize the area exemptfrom inspection.

Allowing the user to visually recognize the area to be inspected in thescanned image leads to preventing erroneous detection or oversight of anabnormal image due to mismatch of the area exempt from inspection.Additionally, when the user checks the scanning result of the image forinspection, the user can identify the area exempt from inspection, tofacilitate the checking activity.

Note that the scanned image, the image indicating the area to beinspected, and the image obtained by superimposing the graphic of thearea to be inspected on the scanned image may be stored in a state ofbeing associated with one another, to allow the user to refer to,compare, or superimpose the respective images depending on application.

Second Embodiment

In order for the user to check the really-inspected area, displaying theimage obtained by scanning the recording medium may be switched withdisplaying the image indicating the area exempt from inspection. FIG. 9is a flowchart of a process to switch between displaying a graphicindicating the area to be inspected so as to be superimposed on thescanned image obtained by scanning the recording medium and notdisplaying the graphic. First, the control unit 10 uses the printingunit 130 to output the job for inspection on the paper 9 (S20), and usesthe image scanning unit 140 to scan the image outputted on the paper 9(S21). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not any areaexempt from inspection is specified in the job for inspection (S22).

If no area exempt from inspection is specified in the job for inspection(No), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106 to executeimage analysis and inspection over the entire image (S25), and proceedsto processing in step S26.

If any area exempt from inspection is specified in the job forinspection (Yes), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106to execute image analysis and inspection over the area to be inspected(S23), uses the image processor 104 to register the graphic indicatingthe area to be inspected in another layer of the scanned image (S24),and proceeds to processing in step S26.

In step S26, the control unit 10 stores the image in the storage unit18. Then, the control unit 10 uses the display processor 105 todetermine whether or not the graphic of the area to be inspected isregistered as a layer in the stored image (S27). If any graphic of thearea to be inspected is registered in the stored image (Yes), thecontrol unit 10 displays the image stored in the storage unit 18, whilemechanically switching, at a predetermined cycle, between displaying thegraphic (rectangle) indicating the area to be inspected so as to besuperimposed on the image and not displaying the graphic (S28), and endsthe process in FIG. 9. Thus, the image obtained by scanning the printedpaper 9 and the area to be inspected are displayed so as to be visuallyrecognizable. If any graphic of the area to be inspected is notregistered in the stored image (No), the control unit 10 displays thestored image (S29), and then ends the process in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is an example of the image 2 obtained by scanning the printedrecording medium. FIG. 11 shows an image 2C displaying the graphic forthe area to be inspected so as to be superimposed on the scanned image.The image 2 includes the text area 21, the photograph area 22, and thevariable area 23 having an address and the like. In contrast, the image2C displays an area to be inspected 41 in an inverted U-shape, and thevariable area 23 at the lower center.

FIG. 12 is a diagram to show a file having an area to be inspectedregistered as another layer of an image obtained by scanning a printedrecording medium. A layer 4 is positioned as an upper layer of the image2 obtained by scanning the printed recording medium. The layer 4includes an area to be inspected 41 in an inverted U-shape. In the layer4, the area to be inspected 41 indicated by hatching is opaque. Theother areas without hatching are transparent.

The layer 4 may be displayed as the upper layer of the image 2, todisplay the image 2C (see FIG. 11) having the graphic of the area 41 tobe inspected superimposed on the scanned image 2. The layer 4 may not bedisplayed, to display the scanned image 2 (see FIG. 10) itself.Mechanically switching, at a predetermined cycle, between displaying theimage 2C and displaying the image 2 in this manner allows the user tovisually recognize the area to be inspected in the scanned image, andfurther to visually recognize the area exempt from inspection.

Third Embodiment

In order for the user to check the really-inspected area, a boundaryline for the area to be inspected may be displayed on an image obtainedby scanning the recording medium.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a process to display boundary lines between anarea to be inspected and an area exempt from inspection so as to besuperimposed on an image obtained by scanning a recording medium. First,the control unit 10 uses the printing unit 130 to output a job forinspection on the paper 9 (S40), and uses the image scanning unit 140 toscan the image outputted on the paper 9 (S41). Next, the control unit 10determines whether or not any area exempt from inspection is specifiedin the job for inspection (S42).

If no area exempt from inspection is specified in the job for inspection(No), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106 to executeimage analysis and inspection over the entire image (S45), and proceedsto processing in step S46.

If any area exempt from inspection is specified in the job forinspection (Yes), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106to execute image analysis and inspection over the area to be inspected(S43), and the image processor 104 to register the boundary linesbetween the area to be inspected and the area exempt from inspection inanother layer of the scanned image (S44), and proceeds to processing instep S46.

In step S46, the control unit 10 stores the image in the storage unit18. Then, the control unit 10 uses the display processor 105 todetermine whether or not the boundary lines between the area to beinspected and the area exempt from inspection are registered as a layerin the stored image (S47). If the boundary lines for the area to beinspected are registered as a layer in the stored image (Yes), thecontrol unit 10 displays the boundary lines for the area to be inspectedon the image stored in the storage unit 18 (S48), and ends the processin FIG. 13. Thus, the image obtained by scanning the printed paper 9 andthe area to be inspected are displayed so as to be visuallyrecognizable. If the graphic of the area to be inspected is notregistered in the stored image (No), the control unit 10 displays thestored image (S49), and ends the process in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a diagram to show a file having the boundary lines betweenthe area to be inspected and the area exempt from inspection registeredas another layer of the image obtained by scanning the recording medium.A boundary line layer 5 is positioned as an upper layer of the image 2obtained by scanning the printed recording medium. The boundary linelayer 5 includes boundary lines 51 to 53. The boundary line 51 indicatesa boundary between the trimmed area at the left end and the area to beinspected. The boundary line 52 indicates a boundary between the trimmedarea at the right end and the area to be inspected. The boundary line 53indicates a boundary between the variable area at the lower center andthe area to be inspected.

The boundary line layer 5 may be displayed as the upper layer of theimage 2, to display an image 2B (see FIG. 15) having the boundary lines51 to 53 superimposed on the scanned image 2. The boundary line layer 5may not be displayed, to display the scanned image 2 itself. Displayingthe image 2B in this manner allows the user to visually recognize theboundary between the area to be inspected and area exempt frominspection in the scanned image.

FIG. 15 is a diagram to show an image obtained by superimposing theboundary lines 51 to 53 between the area to be inspected and area exemptfrom inspection on the image 2 obtained by scanning the recordingmedium. The image 2B includes the text area 21, the photograph area 22,and the variable area 23 having an address and the like. The boundaryline 53 is displayed around the variable area 23. The boundary line 51indicating the boundary for the trimmed area is displayed at the leftend of the image 2B. The boundary line 52 indicating the boundary forthe trimmed area is displayed at the right end of the image 2B.

Fourth Embodiment

A desirable one may be selected from among the ways of indicating areasas described above, depending on the actual application. For thisreason, such a configuration is conceivable that a way of indicating anarea is switched depending on a factor and/or condition to make the areabe exempted from inspection.

Here, factors to make an area be exempted from inspection has anattribute indicating whether the area is a variable area, a trimmedarea, a user-invisible area, or the like. Another factor is an attributeof whether the area is specified by the user or is automaticallyspecified by the device. The condition to make an area be exempted frominspection is whether the area is an area to be inspected common to allpages or an area exempt from inspection specific to one or moredesignated pages.

In particular, for a user who does not want to check any trimmed areasbut wants to visually check a variable area, such a configuration isdesirable that the trimmed areas are displayed in a solid color and aboundary line is displayed for the variable area, so that one or moreareas exempt from inspection are indicated.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a process to display a boundary line for avariable area so as to be superimposed on an image obtained by scanningthe recording medium, and to further display trimmed areas in a solidcolor. First, the control unit 10 uses the printing unit 130 to outputthe job for inspection on the paper 9 (S50), and uses the image scanningunit 140 to scan the image outputted on the paper 9 (S51). Next, thecontrol unit 10 determines whether or not any area exempt frominspection is specified in the job for inspection (S52).

If no area exempt from inspection is specified in the job for inspection(No), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106 to executeimage analysis and inspection over the entire image (S56), and proceedsto processing in step S57.

If any area exempt from inspection is specified in the job forinspection (Yes), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106to execute image analysis and inspection over the area to be inspected(S53), uses the image processor 104 to add a boundary line for thevariable area on the scanned image (S54) and to add displaying anytrimmed areas in a solid color (S55), and proceeds to processing in stepS57.

In step S57, the control unit 10 stores the image in the storage unit18. Then, the control unit 10 uses the display processor 105 to displaythe stored image (S58), and proceeds to processing in step S58. Thus,the image obtained by scanning the printed paper 9 and the area to beinspected are displayed so as to be visually recognizable. Here, thecontrol unit 10 displays an area-to-be-inspected screen 7 in FIG. 17.

In step S59, the control unit 10 determines whether or not an area resetbutton 71 in FIG. 17 has been pressed. When the area reset button 71 ispressed (Yes), the control unit 10 uses the corrector 108 in FIG. 3 toreset an area exempt from inspection (S60), and ends the process in FIG.16. If the area reset button 71 has not been pressed (No), the controlunit 10 ends the process in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 is a diagram to show the area-to-be-inspected screen 7. Thearea-to-be-inspected screen 7 has a wording “area to be inspected”displayed on a title bar 70, an image pane 73 displayed on the lowerleft, and an area reset button 71 displayed on the lower right. An image2D is displayed in the image pane 73. The image 2D has the boundary 53for the variable area 23 displayed and the trimmed areas 31, 32displayed in a solid color. When the area reset button 71 is pressed onthe area-to-be-inspected screen 7, the screen transitions to an areareset screen 7B in FIG. 18 for resetting one or more areas exempt frominspection.

FIG. 18 is a diagram to show the area reset screen 7B for resetting oneor more areas exempt from inspection. The area reset screen 7B has awording “area reset” displayed on the title bar 70, the image pane 73displayed on the lower left, and an area information input pane 74displayed on the lower right. The area reset screen 7B is displayed bythe corrector 108 in FIG. 3. In the area information input pane 74, anX-axis coordinate text box 741 and a Y-axis coordinate text box 742, andan X-axis coordinate text box 743 and a Y-axis coordinate text box 744for editing trimmed areas, and an add button 745 for adding a trimmedarea are displayed. In the area information input pane 74, an X-axiscoordinate text box 746 and a Y-axis coordinate text box 747 for editinga variable area, and an add button 748 for adding a variable area arefurther displayed.

With the user editing the numerical values of the respective text boxesin the area information input pane 74, one or more areas exempt frominspection are reset. As a result, the one or more areas exempt frominspection are changed thereafter according to the set values. Note thatthe setting of the area to be inspected and area exempt from inspectionis not limited to inputting numerical values and may be set throughoperation on a graphical user interface (GUI) screen.

Fifth Embodiment

Only the area to be inspected may be cut out and saved as an image file.This allows for reducing the total file size of the inspection result.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a process to the trim areas exempt frominspection from an image obtained by scanning a printed recordingmedium. First, the control unit 10 uses the printing unit 130 to outputthe job for inspection on the paper 9 (S70), and uses the image scanningunit 140 to scan the image outputted on the paper 9 (S71). Next, thecontrol unit 10 determines whether or not any area exempt frominspection is specified in the job for inspection (S72).

If no area exempt from inspection is specified in the job for inspection(No), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106 to executeimage analysis and inspection over the entire image (S75), and proceedsto processing in step S76.

If any area exempt from inspection is specified in the job forinspection (Yes), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106to execute image analysis and inspection over the area to be inspected(S73). Next, the control unit 10 uses the image processor 104 to trimthe areas exempt from inspection from the scanned image (S74), andproceeds to processing in step S76. Here, the control unit 10 works asthe trimmer 109 (see FIG. 3) for the image processor 104 to trim theareas exempt from inspection from the scanned image.

In step S76, the control unit 10 stores the image of the area to beinspected in the storage unit 18, and ends the process in FIG. 19. Theimage stored here is shown in FIG. 20 to be described below.

FIG. 20 is a diagram to show an image 2E obtained by scanning a printedrecording medium. The image 2E includes the text area 21 and thephotograph area 22. The left and right ends indicated by dashed linesare the boundary lines 51, 52 for the trimmed areas, respectively. Theareas to be inspected in the image 2E are areas excluding the trimmedareas.

FIG. 21 is a diagram to show a trimmed image 8 obtained by trimmingareas exempt from inspection from the image 2 obtained by scanning theprinted recording medium. The trimmed image 8 is a stored image of areasof the image 2E, excluding the trimmed areas as areas exempt frominspection. As the areas exempt from inspection are excluded in thismanner, the file size of the image to be saved is reduced.

Sixth Embodiment

When the information on the areas exempt from inspection is added asinformation such as coordinates and the distances from edges of thepaper, the user may be informed of the numerical values. In thisembodiment, in order for the user to check the really-inspected area,the coordinate information of the areas exempt from inspection isdisplayed.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a process to display the coordinateinformation of the areas exempt from inspection, along with the imageobtained by scanning the recording medium. First, the control unit 10uses the printing unit 130 to output the job for inspection on the paper9 (S80), and uses the image scanning unit 140 to scan the imageoutputted on the paper 9 (S81). Next, the control unit 10 determineswhether or not any area exempt from inspection is specified in the jobfor inspection (S82).

If no area exempt from inspection is specified in the job for inspection(No), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106 to executeimage analysis and inspection over the entire image (S87), stores thescanned image in the storage unit 18 (S88), and proceeds to processingin step S89.

If any area exempt from inspection is specified in the job forinspection (Yes), the control unit 10 uses the abnormality detector 106to execute image analysis and inspection over the area to be inspected(S83), and uses the image processor 104 to generate text information onthe area exempt from inspection (S84). Next, the control unit 10 storesthe scanned image in the storage unit 18 (S85), stores the textinformation on the area exempt from inspection in association with thestored image (S86), and proceeds to processing in step S89. Here, such atechnique of saving the text information in association with the imagemay be used, for example, that the image file and the text informationfile have a common base filename between the two and different fileextensions from each other.

In step S89, the control unit 10 uses the display processor 105 todisplay the stored image. Then, the control unit 10 determines whetheror not any text information on the area exempt from inspection existsfor (is associated with) the stored image (S90). If any text informationon the area exempt from inspection exists for the stored image (Yes),the control unit 10 displays the text information on the area exemptfrom inspection over the image stored in the storage unit 18 (S91), andends the process in FIG. 22. This allows for visually displaying theimage obtained by scanning the printed paper 9 and the information onthe area to be inspected. If no text information on the area exempt frominspection exists for the stored image (No), the control unit 10 endsthe process in FIG. 22.

FIG. 23 is a diagram to show a display screen having the coordinateinformation of the area exempt from inspection. An area informationdisplay screen 7C has a wording “area information display” displayed onthe title bar 70, the image pane 73 displayed on the lower left, and anarea information pane 75 displayed on the lower right. In the areainformation pane 75, trimmed area coordinate information 751, 752 andvariable area coordinate information 753 are displayed.

In the trimmed area coordinate information 751, “X 0 to 2000” and “Y 0to 14000” are displayed. In the area coordinate information 752, “X23000 to 25000” and “Y 0 to 14000” are displayed. In the variable areacoordinate information 753, “X 6000 to 19000” and “Y 8000 to 14000” aredisplayed. In this manner, the information on the area exempt frominspection may be displayed with the coordinate values (numericalvalues).

Modifications

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments,and can be modified and implemented within the scope of the presentinvention, described as follows in a) to f), for example.

a) The trimmed areas exempt from inspection may be displayed such as 10mm from the leading edge of the paper and 7 mm from the trailing edge ofthe paper, and there is no limitation in a style of specifying the rangeof the area.

b) The information on the area to be inspected and area exempt frominspection may be not only registered in another layer of the image, orstored in a text file and then associated with the image file, but alsoregistered in tag information of the image file. Alternatively,information on the area to be inspected and/or area exempt frominspection may be superimposed, in characters, on the scanned image andstored.c) The technique of associating the image file with the area exempt frominspection is not limited to using the same base filename.d) When only the image to be inspected in the image is saved, only thetrimmed areas may be trimmed and the variable area may remain. Thisallows for eliminating the parts to be trimmed and not remaining on theproduct, and for storing, as the inspection result, the variable arearemaining as a part of the product.e) The switching between displaying the original image scanned by theimage scanning unit and displaying the image obtained by superimposingthe graphic, indicating the area to be inspected or the area exempt frominspection, on the original image is not limited to mechanicallyswitching in a predetermined cycle. For example, displaying may beswitched by pressing a switching button as a trigger.f) The image processor may superimpose the graphic, indicating the areato be inspected or the area exempt from inspection, on the same layer asthe image scanned by the image scanning unit, and associate thesuperimposed image with the original image scanned by the image scanningunit for a management purpose.

LEGEND FOR REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1: image forming system, 10: control unit, 101: CPU, 102: ROM,        103: RAM, 104: image processor, 105: display processor (area        indicator), 106: Abnormality detector, 107: operation        controller, 108: corrector, 109: trimmer, 11: display operation        unit, 12: paper feeding unit, 121 to 123: large-capacity paper        feeding stages, 13: image forming device, 130: printing unit,        131, 132: inside paper feeding stages, 133: transport roller,        134: transfer roller, 135: fixing roller, 136,137: reversing        paths, 14: image inspection device, 140: image scanning unit,        141, 142: optical sensors, 143: roller, 15: trimming device,        150: trimming unit, 151 to 153: trimming cutters, 154: waste        bin, 16: purging device, 160: purging unit, 161: main catch        tray, 162: sub catch tray, 163: transport path switching unit,        18: storage unit, 19: communication unit, 2, 2A to 2E: images,        21: text area, 22: photograph area, 23: variable area, 3: layer,        31, 32: trimmed areas, 33: variable area, 4: layer, 41: area to        be inspected, 5: boundary line layer, 51 to 53: boundary lines,        7: area-to-be-inspected screen, 7B: area reset screen, 7C: area        information display screen, 70: title bar, 71: area reset        button, 73: image pane, 74: area information input pane, 741,        743, 746: X-axis coordinate text box, 742, 744, 747: Y-axis        coordinate text box, 745,748: add button, 75: area information        pane, 751, 752: trimmed area coordinate information, 753:        variable area coordinate information, 8: trimmed image, and 9:        paper.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image inspection apparatus comprising: animage scanning unit to scan an image on a paper; an abnormality detectorto inspect whether or not a printing result is normal based on the imagescanned by the image scanning unit; a storage unit to store informationon an area to be inspected by the abnormality detector; and an areaindicator to indicate the area to be inspected by the abnormalitydetector in the image scanned by the image scanning unit.
 2. The imageinspection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an imageprocessor to superimpose a graphic, indicating the area to be inspectedor an area exempt from inspection, on an original image or the imagescanned by the image scanning unit.
 3. The image inspection apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the image processor superimposes a graphic,indicating the area to be inspected or the area exempt from inspection,on the same layer as the original image, and associates the superimposedimage with the original image for a management purpose.
 4. The imageinspection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the image processor,when superimposing the graphic indicating the area to be inspected onthe original image, registers the graphic in a layer different from theoriginal image.
 5. The image inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 3,wherein the area indicator switches displaying the original image anddisplaying an image obtained by superimposing a graphic, indicating thearea to be inspected or the area exempt from inspection, on the originalimage.
 6. The image inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe area indicator displays the area to be inspected or the area exemptfrom inspection in a solid color, with respect to the image scanned bythe image scanning unit.
 7. The image inspection apparatus as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the area indicator displays a boundary line between thearea to be inspected and the area exempt from inspection, with respectto the image scanned by the image scanning unit.
 8. The image inspectionapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the area indicator switches away of indicating the area exempt from inspection, depending on a factorand/or condition to make the area be exempt from inspection.
 9. Theimage inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: adisplay processor to create an image indicating the area to be inspectedby the abnormality detector.
 10. The image inspection apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 further comprising: a trimmer to generate an imageobtained by trimming an area exempt from inspection from the imagescanned by the image scanning unit.
 11. The image inspection apparatusas claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a storage unit to storeinformation on the area to be inspected or an area exempt frominspection, along with the image scanned by the image scanning unit. 12.The image inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein thestorage unit stores information on the area to be inspected or the areaexempt from inspection in characters so as to be superimposed on theimage scanned by the image scanning unit.
 13. The image inspectionapparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the storage unit stores animage scanned by the image scanning unit, and stores information on thearea to be inspected or the area exempt from inspection in associationwith the image.
 14. The image inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 1further comprising: a corrector to correct the area to be inspected oran area exempt from inspection, which has abnormality detected by theabnormality detector.
 15. The image inspection apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an/the area exempt from inspection by the abnormalitydetector includes an area to be trimmed from a recording medium havingthe image printed thereon.
 16. The image inspection apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein a/the area exempt from inspection by the abnormalitydetector includes an area having different print contents for eachrecording medium.
 17. An image inspection method comprising: scanning,by an image scanning unit, an image on a paper; determining, by anabnormality detector, whether or not a printing result is normal basedon the image scanned by the image scanning unit; storing information onan area to be inspected by the abnormality detector in a storage unit;and indicating, by an area indicator, the area to be inspected by theabnormality detector in the image scanned by the image scanning unit.18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium used for image inspection,storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:scanning, by an image scanning unit, an image on a paper; determiningwhether or not a printing result is normal based on the image scanned bythe image scanning unit; storing information on an area to be inspectedin a storage unit; and indicating, by an area indicator, the area to beinspected in the image scanned by the image scanning unit.